Binnacle and steering stand.



No. 649,77I. Patented May 15, I900. W. T. STANWORTH.

BINNAGLE AND STEERING STAND.

(Application lad Feb. 26, 1900.) (No Model.)

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Price.

Parent WALTER THOMAS STANWORTH, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

BINNACLE AND STEERING STAND.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 649,771, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed February 26, 1900. Serial No. 6,567. (No model.)

T0 (0 whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WALTER THOMAS STAN- WORTH, residing at Norfolk, inthe county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have made certain new anduseful Improvements in Binnacle and Steering Stands, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in steering-stands for steamboats andsteamships and sailing and other vessels, and has for an object tosupport the compass conveniently in close proximity to thesteering-wheel; and the invention consists, broadly, in a combinedsteering-stand and compass-support or binnacle; further, in asteering-stand provided with a wheel and with an extension above thewheel and the compass on said extension, the steering-wheel and compassbeing carried by the same stand, and, further, in a steering-standprovided with the steeringwheel and with the compass above andconcentric with said wheel, all of which will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View, and Fig. 2 a front elevation,of a stand embodying my invention; and Fig. 3 is a sectional top planview thereof.

The steering-stand A is suitably located for the purpose and supportsthe wheel B, whose shaft C may be connected in any suitable manner withthe rudder or with the devices for operating the same. Manifestly thisconnection may be a mechanical one, or the steering devices may beoperated by the aid of compressed air, electricity, steam, or otherwise,as may be desired. The shaft 0 is shown in upright position, with thewheel 13 arranged horizontally.

For supporting the compass I provide the stand A with an extension Aabove the wheel B and support the compass D upon such upward extension Aand arrange it concentrically with the wheel B. In forming the extensionA, I provide the stand with the outwardly-bowed portions A which extendaround the wheel 13 at the front and rear thereof and operate to supportthe compass Without interfering with the proper manipulation of thewheel 13 by the steersman standing in rear of the stand A.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the compass or binnacle iscarried upon the same stand as the steering-wheel and is concentrictherewith. Now this is important not only because it avoids thenecessity of an independent binnacle-stand, but mainly because itsupports the compass conveniently in position, so that bearings of anyobject that can be kept in sight can be taken at any angle, the compassbeing arranged in the position to which it is accessible at all timesand which permits an accurate steering, as the helmsman is at all timesin the center line of the ship, and the compass being directly over thewheel aids in the accuracy of the steering.

Manifestly the compass D and the binnacle lamp D may be of any desiredconstruction.

From a practical standpoint the arrangement of the compass upon thesteering-stand is of great importance, as it permits the helmsman tostand in the center line of the vessel at all times and to see thecompass and lay the course without in any degree moving from saidcenter-line position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A steering-stand provided with the steering-wheel and above the samewith an extension and having the outwardly-bowed portions extendingaround the wheel and supporting such extension, and the compass arrangedupon said upward extension, substantially as set forth.

2. A steering-stand provided with a Wheel and having an extension abovethe wheel and the compass on said extension, thesteeringwheel andcompass being carried by the same stand, substantially as set forth.

3. A steering-stand provided with the steering-wheel and with thecompass above and concentric with said wheel, substantially as setforth.

4. A steering-stand provided with means for supporting thesteering-wheel and with means for supporting the compass, and thesteering-wheel and compass carried by said stand substantially as setforth.

W ALTER THOMAS S'IFANWOR'IH.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JACK, JAMES G. PEAKE.

